Came here on a weeknight for a group event, and the staff immediately greeted me and found a place to place my belongings. I attended the Pouring Bear event, and there was a wide variety of colors to choose from and clean setup. The staff were extremely friendly and attentive, and they even delivered the completed bears in beautiful cylindrical packaging for our group order! Would highly recommend. This was an excellent event for people of all craft skill levels, and the welcoming atmosphere in the studio made it such an enjoyable experience. read more

Simple Thread SF - Arts & Crafts Near Me - San Francisco, California

I cried on the inside while tufting for the first time from someone who had never handled yarn. Monica taught us how to use the handgun and techniques to go through round designs. I struggled for three hours and accidentally created a big hole on the first try, and had to replace a handgun because it was weak. David, another instructor, happily replaced the whole canvas, so I had to start over by drawing the design through their portable Bluetooth projector. He warned me that if I ripped another canvas, there would be an extra cost. For the next two hours, I got a handle on the handgun, but still needed assistance from my friend since she had experience in punch needle, which is a manual, mini version of tufting without a handgun. I accidentally made a small hole by puncturing the same spot twice to fix the gap, so I asked Monica for advice. She suggested that I should make a small patch on the bottom side of the design so she can glue it later. However, David came to analyze the hole and happily fixed it for me by filling in the rest of the gaps. I didn't have to do extra work. Five hours later, all the crew members were helping us put each design together by patching it up and shaving. Since they were busy, I had to wait for my turn to use the vacuum and trimmer to shave off excess yarn on top of the design to give it a polished 3D look. I felt bad for that one girl who couldn't finish tufting her Hello Kitty since she arrived here 30 minutes before our appointment. Overall, it was a fun and humbling experience for under $200, based on canvas size. Very time-consuming, yet there's a promo for on a weekday suitable for couples: $168 for two small ones and $206 for two mediums. They even offer a group package suitable for parties of five. Great for any special occasions and corporate socials. Also kids over 12 years old can do it. Complimentary snacks are available for customers, but the Pop Mart figurines are available for purchase. Must reserve a spot on their website or IG page before they open on weekends. read more

See all

My friend wanted to check this place out with me and I have been curious about tufting so we went on a weekend around lunch time. There was some street parking, we got lucky enough to find a spot right in front. The place is huge, with high ceilings, a wall of yarn, and plenty of tables to work in. More people came after us so it was almost a full house that day. First they ask what image you want to work on. They tell you if it will be difficult to do and will warn you if it's too much for a beginner. They told me mine will be too difficult but I said I can do it so they let me do it anyway. They had the image projected on the canvas and we proceeded to outline it. After, we got a little class on how to use the tufting gun. Then, we were told to grab the yarn we need for our images. I love the selection of yarn. All the colors you might need, they had. A warning, tufting takes a VERY long time. We were there for 8 HOURS. I was waiting on my friend to finish so I made little coasters of my cats too. I think our hours there could've been shorter if not all of us were trying to clean/shave our little creations at the same time. They had only 2 tables for the last shaving process and some people took a REALLY long time. At the end of the day I was hungry, frustrated, ready to go home, probably had carpel tunnel, and a nice cute rug and coasters. I still recommend it! lol read more

See all

My friends and I came here yesterday and had such a great time tufting! It was the first time for all of us, and we really enjoyed it. We found street parking pretty easily. The area wasn't too busy, and there were several spots open. The street parking had a maximum of 4 hours, so keep that in mind. We were there for about 5 hours, so we did have to move our cars to a different "zone." Parking was free after 6pm. Come prepared with a design so you can get started as soon as you arrive. The staff members helped project our designs onto the canvas. I didn't realize this until afterward, but remember to flip your picture if needed! After the staff projected our images, they gave us a marker to trace an outline. Then, we grabbed the yarn. There were plenty of yarn colors to choose from. They showed us a demonstration on how to use the tufting gun and even let us practice on a practice canvas. It looked intimidating at first, but you get the hang of it pretty quick. Just make sure you apply enough pressure and keep a steady pace! Overall, this was a great experience, and I would want to do it again. read more

Simple Thread SF - Arts & Crafts Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Looking for something fun to do in the city? @simplethread.sf got you covered! With sizes starting at $98, you can turn an art you like into a rug to take home! Not going to lie, it's harder than we thought it was going to be haha but the instructors were so nice and guide you throughout so you're never lost. You can also pour your own bear and make your own art. Such a great value for things you can take home and so unique! Such a fun idea for a date or even going solo! read more

Simple Thread SF - Arts & Crafts Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

I had a fun time tufting even though it is challenging, but hey it's my first time. I loved the crew working; they're so nice and helpful. Even though I had issues multiple times, they were so patient. The trace for my rug was simple, but my husband wanted to go all out color-wise. The color selections that they had was like a gradient of the rainbow. Like 50 shades of gray type of selection. I chose size medium and it was our first time, I basically should have bought size small because I didn't have enough time, patience or thread for the background. So if I were to do it again next time, I would do medium since I now got the hang of it. Overall it was worth the price! read more

Simple Thread SF - A crispy oily egg and a toad - Arts & Crafts Near Me - San Francisco, California

My boyfriend and I saw the viral videos about rug tufting so we knew we had to try! I made a reservation about 2 days in advanced for a tufting class on Saturday. The class is about 4 hours long and there are different rug sizes that you can make. We both made a small rug. The staff was friendly and made learning how to use the equipment super easy. I would recommend having a couple of design options picked out before hand in case your initial design is too complicated. You can also draw out your own design on the canvas! I was worried that my design was going to come out looking scuffed but the instructor is available to help you or guide you in the right direction! I also appreciated how there was an opportunity to practice a little bit with the tufting gun before trying it on your own canvas. All the yarn is included in the price and there is a good variety of colors available to use! Overall, I had so much fun and I think that the class was worth it! There is an option for 2 people to work on one large rug as well! read more

See all

We came to Simple Thread to make small rugs as a family. It took us over 4 hours to finish. David was our teacher and he was super nice and patient. If you know how to sew like my oldest, she picked it up quickly. Fun event and we got to take the rugs home the same day. read more

See all

Great experience we will be back one thing I will ask in the future is if they can play some music that will be more welcoming read more

Simple Thread SF - Arts & Crafts Near Me - San Francisco, California

booked a last minute tufting workshop right after Christmas and they were able to accommodate us! Danny showed us the ropes and how to use the tufting machine and there were plenty of colors to pick fro. the process took longer than expected but they were very helpful throughout the process. I would definetly come here again to make more rugs in the future! read more

Simple Thread SF - Arts & Crafts Near Me - San Francisco, California

My boyfriend and I did a weekday rug tufting class and ended up being the one people signed up for the day. Our instructor was so kind and helpful and advised us on our rig ideas and then showed us how to use the tufting gun. It was so fun to learn and see your creation come to life. They had so many colors and everything you need to finish your rug that day. The workshop was longer than we expected but we enjoyed it. I would definitely come back for another workshop or session. read more

See all

Finally tried tufting for the first time, and it was not easy. Make sure to come ready with a design on your phone. Then the staff will project it on the canvas. It was very beginner friendly since the staff also demonstrated and taught each of us how to use the tufting gun. The canvas is also very forgiving - I had to take out and redo a lot of it. But after a while, I became more comfortable in using the gun and it became easier. The selection of yarn colors are beatable, so many shades of different colors. Once I was done, the staff shaved, trimmed, and cleaned my rug. It took me around 3 hours to finish a small canvas. A great thing to do for a solo date, or a date date! They also provide water and lots of snacks! Small canvas ($98) Medium canvas ($118) Large canvas ($198) Deal for weekdays ($168 for two small canvases or $206 for two medium canvases) Parking may be tricky, no special parking lot. But there are a few street parking spots in front of the building. read more

Clean and spacious studio with overflowing natural light! Rug tufting for beginners can take a while to get the hang of and can take many hours, so doing it in a peaceful environment helped reduce the frustration and stress when things weren't working out as imagined. We did the smallest sized rugs, yet it took us at least 4 hours from start to finish. Our teacher gave helpful instruction, played TikTok viral hits, and even offered us pizza! I also had boba delivered, which was much needed to fuel us through the 4-hour class. Another major plus was that our desks were electric standing ones, allowing us to stand while tufting which was so much more comfortable than sitting. There were only 3 other people on the Saturday afternoon that we went, so the studio felt extra open and comfortable. Because they just opened, they're running a social media deal, which brought the price down to about $90/person. We booked our class a week in advance using their Instagram link in bio after hearing good things about their San Jose location. We were so happy with our finished products! Highly recommend to anyone who's interested in rug tufting! read more

Simple Thread SF - Arts & Crafts Near Me - San Francisco, California

My fiancée and I had such a great time making custom bearbricks. David was such a great instructor. It was our first time so he helped us mix paint, showed us how to pour, but most importantly ensured we had a fun experience. We would definitely come back and recommend! read more

Simple Thread SF - Arts & Crafts Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

We came here for my wife's birthday. Our original plan was to find somewhere to do some pottery (throwing) but I am glad that those plans fell through and we found this alternative. The staff was kind and helpful. I have zero experience tufting and I think mine came out much better than expected. Expect to be here for at least 4 hours. Its well worth the money and time. Every time I have done paint night, the artwork is too embarrassing to hang up in my house. This was a totally different experience with a result you can be proud of. One last tip. It helps to come here prepared with a design. Simple images with less shading are a good place to get started for a beginner. If you are advanced you can dabble in shades, they have a lot of colors to choose from. read more

I highly recommend this. I went on July 26,2024 and did two large canvases. I went with my girlfriend for her birthday and it was just perfect. David did an amazing job really guiding us through and giving time to make sure we understood how to make it work. He also did a great job double checking and making the whole process as smooth as possible. I have nothing but good things to say about this place. I have been telling other people and will come back at some point. read more

Simple Thread SF - the process - Arts & Crafts Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

What an experience! I don't have a single artistic bone in my body, yet we were able to create such cute rugs! David was an absolutely amazing teacher and he taught us step by step how to do everything. Staff would also come around and give us tips so our rugs wouldn't come out looking like a complete wreck haha. We were there from 11am - 4pm. It was a long class but time honestly flew by so fast. Good company, good music, and it was definitely worth the price (2 medium rugs for ~$230). This was a great way to spend a relaxing birthday celebration and I plan to do this again with more friends. There is plenty of paid street parking. read more

Simple Thread SF - Medium rugs (poros!) - Arts & Crafts Near Me - San Francisco, California

After falling for the TikTok hype, I went searching for a rug tufting place in the Bay Area and booked this one because they had the cheapest prices lol. I believe the medium is $140 and the large is $200. There is also a small size I'm not sure the price of, but it's all listed on their website. Tl;dr the service and experience here were AMAZING! And they have the best price I could find! Simple thread's San Francisco location is very conveniently located on Harrison street. There is 4 hour street parking outside. I think one hour is $2. The SF location just opened two months ago, but the San Jose location has been open for two years. I believe our instructor said there are more yarn colors (yes, the color selection is huge and extensive) and safer tufting tools here since the place is new. The space is huge and beautiful. You get to stare at a super cute garden the entire time and feel like a real arts and crafts person. The desk your canvas is on is adjustable, which was SO COOL and saved my legs and back. David was our instructor, and he was super knowledgeable and an incredibly nice person. He provided us water, coke, and pizza (out of his own kindness and pocket- @the owners of Simple Thread, please give this man a raise) and was so so kind and hospitable the whole time. He even stayed an hour after closing to help our group finish up. I came with my partner and her sister as a group of three. The entire process was super easy. My partner and her sister used a medium frame, and I did a large. If you want your rug to actually be rug sized, I'd highly recommend the large. The medium is more of a welcome mat size. You're also able to do more intricate designs with the large size. They do close at 7pm, so if you want to do a big piece, come earlier rather than later. I came at 1pm and did manage to finish right at the 7pm mark though. Our designs were pretty intricate and we had no problems doing them with David's help. The process: sign up on their website for a date and time. They'll text or call you to confirm and answer any questions you might have. Before the day of, choose your image/what you want to tuft and save a photo on your phone. Once you get here, your image is projected onto your canvas and you outline it in marker. Then you get a very thorough lesson on how to tuft. The tufting process does indeed take 5-6 hours as advertised. After tufting, your instructor will check your work, help you perfect your rug, and then assemble the backboard for you. You then shave down your rug, and the instructor will trim your rug and snip the edges clean after. David took such special care with this part when he definitely didn't have to, and it made our rugs look so good. After everything, you get to take your rug home the same day. The 5-6 hours is an ARM AND SHOULDER WORKOUT so don't do arm day the day before. This was our first time rug tufting and we had an amazing experience and are very happy with our rugs. read more

See all

We came here from 3 hours away. We we're so excited to finally paint a bear brick & my inspo picture was light pink, grey, white colors & even the girl said, "how cute". When we started mixing the color trying to get it to light pink, I noticed there was no white. She told us just to use the glossy coat and I did which it made no difference. She said to try yellow to cancel out the red and it turned salmon color. Then, the gloss ran out too. I asked her for more & she said they had ran out. She then proceeded to say that it was because we only needed two cups of color. I told her the problem was that their was no white. She also told me to use more of the gloss coat to make it lighter at first. She was nice but just super disappointed that we paid $88 for something that we didn't enjoy making at all because all the paint was dried out. read more

My friends and I had a great rug tufting class here. David gave very clear instructions: explaining different techniques, the pros and cons of those methods, etc. There were so many colors to choose from, and the tools worked perfectly. The pace was very fair, and I never felt rushed. Highly recommend! read more

It was my first time tufting and the staff there were very friendly. Whenever we had questions they were helpful. The staff demonstrating were very informative. If you're stuck on what to make they have pictures of past carpets that customers have done as inspo. read more

Simple Thread SF - Arts & Crafts Near Me - San Francisco, California

My partner took me here for our anniversary to make a rug together and although we came late (apologies!) it was such a lovely experience. Staff were very sweet and helpful. I feel like we got the hang of the tufting really fast. The hard part was finishing the rug bc we chose the biggest size. Atmosphere was great, the class size wasn't overwhelming at all and the location was easy to find! They have a great selection of thread color and their setup was perfect for beginners. Thank you so much for such a beautiful anniversary experience! We will be coming back soon! Just this time for a smaller rug hahah! read more

love this store! This is so much fun! The best tufting experience ever! Definitely will recommend it to all my friends, such a good weekend hangout place! All their staff are professional, friendly and helpful! read more

Highly recommend this place for tufting! Our instructor was David, he was very thorough, experienced and patient. The place is big and clean, had all the necessary tools and a huge collection of threads. Very happy with my final product! read more

First time rug tufting and it was a lot of fun. David was very helpful and made the process of tufting enjoyable and approachable. Definitely would go again! read more

I've been seeing tufting all over the internet and finally have a chance to do my own rug! It was super fun to explore this new handcrafting activity in town. It was a little bit harder than what I expected, but still managed to finish the medium frame with in 5 hours! Couple tips for anyone who wants to try tufting: pick a design before you visit the studio, and make sure they are in cartoon style(try to keep it less detail as possible, otherwise could be SUPER HARD); remember bring some snacks&water to energize yourself. Instructor David provided super detailed instructions and lots of tips&tricks, and his always there to answer your questions, so you don't have to worry about messing up! They also got over 90 different color of yarns, you don't have to worry about not having the color that meets your requirements! Overall after seeing the rug I made by myself, I would say it's definitely worth the money and time I spend! read more

See all

I had been wanting to try out tufting, but couldn't find a place close by to learn, so i was thrilled when this location opened! I had a great time! David explained everything thoroughly and was very helping answering any questions. I would definitely come back and recommend to anyone wanting to try it out! read more

the instructor was very nice and explained everything thoroughly; equipments are all new and worked perfectly. highly recommend:)